Arnot-Roberts Chardonnay Watson Ranch Vineyard Napa Valley 2014

Watson Ranch Vineyard, Napa Valley

The Watson Ranch vineyard is perched on a steep hillside overlooking the San Pablo Bay in the southernmost end of the Napa Valley. The vineyard can be seen on the top of the hill just east of the Green Island Vineyard which we sourced fruit from 2007-09. Exposed and austere, the Watson Ranch is a wind whipped site planted in 1993 by the talented grower Salvador Ramos on marine deposits over limestone. This soil type is extremely rare on the North Coast and lends itself perfectly to growing world class Chardonnay. This soil coupled with organic farming techniques and cool windy conditions give this parcel great potential to produce Chardonnay of singular character.

Reviews

Vinous

Antonio GalloniFebruary 2016

92
The 2014 Chardonnay Watson Ranch is deep and intense, with distinctive floral and savory notes that flesh out as the wine shows off its ample frame. Dried apricot and chamomile add further shades of dimension. These vines, planted on clay over limestone yield an especially generous style of Chardonnay within the Arnot-Roberts style.